Chris Carman ([log in to unmask]) wrote: > Which is fine, but how come when I keep running the script, I get: > $ perl pid.pl > 570478783 > $ perl pid.pl > 570478783 > $ perl pid.pl > 570478783 > $ perl pid.pl > 570478783 > Shouldn't the process ID change every time it's run? Basically, all I want is > a unique number every time this script I'm working on is run, and although it > wouldn't be a problem to put in a little counter subroutine, I just figured a > process ID would be easier. Any ideas? Thanks! Hmmmm.... That should work the way you expected it. I did it on my machine and got exectly the behaviour I expected. What system are you running this script on? Unless highly predictable numbers would be a no no, you could also use the time() function to do what you're wanting. What is the purpose of generating the number? -- Randy Kaelber: [log in to unmask] DARS Programmer/Analyst, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056 USA http://avian.dars.muohio.edu/~randy/